Reaction to Kane stance on Pa. marriage lawsuit

Reaction to Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane's statement Thursday that she will not defend a 1996 state law that effectively bans same-sex marriage from a legal challenge in federal court:

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"We are surprised that the attorney general, contrary to her constitutional duty under the Commonwealth Attorneys Act, has decided not to defend a Pennsylvania statute lawfully enacted by the General Assembly, merely because of her personal beliefs. We have not received any formal notification of Attorney General Kane's decision. While we await that notification and accompanying legal justification, we will continue to review the lawsuit filed by the ACLU." — James Schultz, general counsel for Gov. Tom Corbett

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"We applaud Attorney General Kane for doing the right thing, standing up for equal justice under the law, and fighting legally sanctioned discrimination in her State. It's long past time for our nation to fulfill our founding ideals and embrace equality for same sex couples." — Matt Mittenthal, spokesman for New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman

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"It is unacceptable for Attorney General Kathleen Kane to put her personal politics ahead of her taxpayer-funded job by abdicating her responsibilities. She is blatantly politicizing the highest law enforcement office in our commonwealth at the expense of a core responsibility of the attorney general's office. Kathleen Kane is failing our citizens and this situation leaves a gaping doubt in her ability to fairly execute her job. Pennsylvanians are left with the question ... what law will she ignore next?" — Robert Gleason, Republican Party chairman of Pennsylvania.

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"Today, Attorney General Kathleen Kane took a stand for liberty and justice when she announced that she will not defend Pennsylvania's ban on gay marriage. ... Her decision is the right and moral thing to do." — John Hanger, Democratic candidate for governor in Pennsylvania.

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"We are pleased that the Attorney General recognizes what we have long known — that Pennsylvania's ban on marriage for same-sex couples is indefensible. We look forward to continuing the fight to make sure that one day every Pennsylvanian will be free to marry the person he or she loves." — Reggie Shuford, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania.

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"Attorney General Kathleen Kane is taking a courageous and firm stand against a law with little merit, and we applaud her convictions. All Pennsylvanians should be treated equally under the law, and by ensuring that all Pennsylvanians have the right to marry the ones they love, we can take another step toward equality." — Jim Burn, Democratic Party chairman of Pennsylvania.

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"When executive branch officials refuse to defend commonwealth law despite the clear duties imposed by both the Pennsylvania Constitution and controlling statutes, the fundamental nature of the American experiment in representative democracy is called into question. We would simply urge you to reconsider your decision to refuse to fulfill the duties of the office to which you were elected." — House Speaker Sam Smith, R-Jefferson, and 23 other House Republicans in letter to Kane.